Jan. 31, 2008

Kate Pancero

8/31/09 4:12 PM

Get out and play

This weekend, “chill out” downtown with your family during the opening of the Museum of Modern Ice: Paintings Below Zero at Millennium Park, located between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive at Washington Street. The festival revolves around “Paintings Below Zero,” a colorful, frozen painting on ice by Gordon Halloran. The installation was made from glass and ice and is held together by Halloran’s portable refrigeration technology, which uses modular aluminum plates that conduct the cold. If things get too chilly, you can defrost at the Hot Spot at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

The exhibition offers both ice- and heat-themed events, which run throughout the month. Events include ice skating, a treasure hunt around the Cultural Center (where you can pick up a map) and Millennium Park and an indoor art show, “Slightly Unbalanced.”

There are different events and activities going on every weekend throughout the exhibition that are family focused. Between noon and 4 p.m., step inside the American Express Heated Tent to make various crafts and activities. Kids can also play ice games outside with ice portraits and “burr blocks.” Saturday, inside the Cultural Center, your family can catch a film at 2 p.m. or take a tour from 1:15-2 p.m.

If you are planning ahead, make reservations to Chill Out at MOMI, a free event at 6:30 p.m. Saturday that involves live entertainment from Plaid and the New Millennium Orchestra and a non-alcoholic ice bar. Parents may also register for a cooking class 1-3 p.m. Sunday on “simmering soups” for $10 at the Cultural Center’s Education Center.

The Museum of Modern Ice is free and open daily through Feb. 29. For hours and more information, visit the Web site, www.museumofmodernice.com.

Sweet discount

Chicago Parent readers may receive two for one tickets to the 2 p.m. Feb. 2 performance of “The Cay” by Adventure Stage Chicago at Vittum Theater, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago, when they mention the Weekend E-dition. Based on the book by Theodore Taylor, “The Cay” is a story about a young boy stranded on a deserted island during World War II. This play is recommended for kids 8 and up. For tickets or more information, call (773) 342-4242 or visit www.adventurestage.org. This offer is subject to availability and is not valid with any other offer or on previously purchased tickets.

Get your prize pack here

This is your last week to win family prize packs courtesy of the Museum of Science and Industry and National Geographic magazine. The prize packs include four passes to the Museum of Science and Industry, including general admission and tickets to the Omnimax film, “Sea Monsters,” plus a free one-year subscription to one of the following National Geographic magazines: National Geographic, National Geographic Travel or National Geographic Adventure. Because this is your last chance to win, we have eight packs to give away. To win, in honor of Groundhog Day, we want to know what your favorite rodent is and why. Post your answer to our discussion board and e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to [email protected]. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.

Get your tickets here

If you missed your chance to see Hannah Montana live, don’t worry. Two lucky Chicago Parent families will have a chance to see “Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert” on the big screen and in 3-D, courtesy of Classic Cinemas. The show will play Feb. 1-7 and will have several show times to choose from at the Charlestowne 18, 3740 E. Main St., St. Charles, or Lake Theatre, 1022 Lake St., Oak Park. To win, tell us what your favorite baby book was as a child and if you read it to your kids now. Post your answer on our discussion board, then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to [email protected]. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.

Get out and play some more

I’ve watched the movie a million times. I know the words to all the songs. I have even been seen standing in front of the TV, learning the dance steps—and I’m not a 12-year-old girl. I’m the mom. It is not hard to get caught up in the phenomenon known as High School Musical.

And now, the excitement continues on ice. My 10-year-old Sofie, my mom and I went to see “High School Musical: The Ice Tour,” at the Allstate Arena. By my estimate, 70 percent of the audience was 8- to 12-year-old girls. And those girls, every one of them, were screaming, dancing and singing along with every song.

The skaters are young, cute and talented. The show moves along at a quick pace, with the original movie during Act I and HSM 2 during Act II. Piano player Kelsi narrates in between scenes to keep the audience up to speed.

Piece of the prize

This week, three lucky Chicago Parent readers will win "SpongeBob SquarePants: To Love a Patty” on DVD. To win, tell us what writer you would interview, dead or alive, if you had the chance and why on our discussion board. Then e-mail your answer, name and your Chicago Parent ID to [email protected]. You must post and e-mail us for your answer to be counted. We will not release your information-it is purely for contact purposes. Winners will be chosen at random and may have no affiliation with Wednesday Journal Inc. or its employees.